Widely hailed as one of the most significant works in modern political philosophy, John Rawls's Political Liberalism (1993) defended a powerful vision of society that respects reasonable ways of life, both religious and secular. These core values have never been more critical as anxiety grows over political and religious difference and new restrictions are placed on peaceful protest and individual expression.

This anthology of original essays suggests new, groundbreaking applications of Rawls's work in multiple disciplines and contexts. Thom Brooks, Martha Nussbaum, Onora O'Neill (University of Cambridge), Paul Weithman (University of Notre Dame), Jeremy Waldron (New York University), and Frank Michelman (Harvard University) explore political liberalism's relevance to the challenges of multiculturalism, the relationship between the state and religion, the struggle for political legitimacy, and the capabilities approach. Extending Rawls's progressive thought to the fields of law, economics, and public reason, this book helps advance the project of a free society that thrives despite disagreements over religious and moral views.

About the Author

Thom Brooks is professor of law and government at Durham University. He is the author of Punishment and founding editor of the Journal of Moral Philosophy. He has edited several collections, including The Legacy of John Rawls and The Global Justice Reader.Martha C. Nussbaum is Ernst Freund Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago. Her principal appointments are in the Philosophy Department and the Law School. Her books include Frontiers of Justice, Creating Capabilities, Political Emotions, and Anger and Forgiveness.

5. The Priority of Liberty - Frank I. Michelman"The center-piece is Nussbaum's "Introduction" which is the best of its kind - clear, wide-ranging and insightful. The other chapters, all by leading theorists, make distinctive and important contributions. Some remain close to the text while others explore broader implications of Rawls's approach, but all significantly advance our understanding of what Nussbaum rightly calls "one of the most important works of political philosophy of the twentieth century."" — Jon Mandle, University at Albany, State University of New York

"Rawls's Political Liberalism includes essays by distinguished and well-known philosophers and theorists. Martha Nussbaum's introduction is an excellent survey of main themes of Political Liberalism and of the philosophical discussion of it. The other essays, all of them up-to-date, are of very high quality. The essays range across a wide variety of philosophically interesting topics (most of them topics with a nice trail of discussion in the secondary literature, amply commented on in the treatments provided in the various chapters). One main focus of the book is on the myriad ways in which overlapping consensus and political stability (operating together on a terrain of moral pluralism) work together. The book makes a strong and compelling case for the enduring philosophical significance of Political Liberalism." — Rex Martin, University of Kansas

"The contributors to this jewel of a collection reveal that there remains much to learn by engaging with Rawls's Political Liberalism. By querying the potential international reach of political liberalism, probing its capacity to account for constitutional and legal arrangements, and reexamining its appeal to conceptions of the good, they bring to light new aspects of its depth." — Henry S. Richardson, Georgetown University

"These essays by leading political, moral, and legal theorists provide significant interpretations and reassessments of the central ideas of Rawls's Political Liberalism. For example, Martha Nussbaum's introduction is a real service, a "must read" particularly for those new to the field. Frank Michelman's essay is the best work of its kind on the Constitutional specification of the basic liberties. And Jeremy Waldron presents significant new challenges to the idea of public reason. Highly recommended." — Samuel Freeman, University of PennsylvaniaUPDATE:Anyone who uses the promo
code “BRORAW” to buy the book from Columbia UP website will receive a 30% discount off
the price of the book

Readers will know I've been working on the general election campaign as digital comms lead for Phil Wilson's re-election campaign. He's been MP for Sedgefield since 2007 -- Tony Blair previously held this seat.

Saturday, April 04, 2015

The
UK Government must provide urgent funding to help reduce the impact of
migration on public services, according to a Durham University expert.

Professor
Thom Brooks, in Durham Law School, called for the return of the Migration
Impacts Fund launched in 2009, which was discontinued by the Coalition
Government after the 2010 general election.

Last
year immigration rose to 298,000. The Office for National Statistics linked its
rise to increasing migration from within the EU (43,000) and non-EU (49,000).

Professor
Brooks, who is a Professor of Law and Government as well as a Labour Party
member, said: “The Migration Impacts Fund helped support about £70m over two
years by introducing a levy on immigration applications. It was neither funded
by taxpayers or the European Union and it provided an invaluable source of new
funding to reduce migration-related pressures on local services, covering a
range of programmes including English language training, extra support teachers
and improving emergency services.

“The
Coalition Government stopped support for the fund because it found it
‘ineffective’ (1), but did not replace it with an alternative. The extra
income generated was diverted to other Government spending programmes.

“The
problem is that the Government is now forced to find money elsewhere for a
programme that should have never been scrapped.”

In
his research briefing, Professor Brooks claims an extra £11.7m could be created
by a new £25 levy on immigration applications that could be used to support
efforts to reduce migration-related impact.

Professor
Brooks added: “The Government’s poor management of asylum applications led to
cities like Middlesbrough receiving almost 50 per cent more asylum seekers than
recommended in guidelines (2).

“This
forced the Government to provide new funding to reduce unnecessary strain on
local public services. The problem can be avoided by relaunching a fund that
should have never been scrapped.

“A
small levy on application fees could raise new funding to provide urgent
support without increasing costs for hard working taxpayers and improving
public services for all.”

The
funding raised can then go to where it is needed most. The Government’s new
migration ‘health surcharge’ starting on Monday does not. Brooks says:
“Applicants pay a fee upfront, but the funds raised do not follow them if they
move within the UK and directed to health care alone. The Migration Impacts
Reduction Fund would more effectively target services and better track need.”
The Government has chosen to launch the surcharge after Parliament dissolved,
but before the general election in what Brooks describes as pure
electioneering.

. . . is her new Open Access article for the first issue of the Journal of the American Philosophical Association. Highly recommended (and delighted to see she cites my book Punishment, too)! READ MORE HERE.

Thursday, April 02, 2015

Phil Wilson launched his re-election campaign surrounded by local supporters with the opening of his new campaign centre in Newton Aycliffe’s town centre.

Phil Wilson launched his re-election campaign surrounded by local supporters with the opening of his new campaign centre in Newton Aycliffe’s town centre.

He says: “It is an honour to serve as the MP for the community in which I live. I have lived here all my life. My children went to local schools here. My father was a coal miner for many years here. My mother was born in Fishburn. My local roots run deep. I am Labour's local man.

That is why I share the aspirations and ambitions of local people. I want to see our young people get on and go as far as they can in education or at work.

I have worked very hard for the people of Newton Aycliffe and the wider Sedgefield constituency. I led the campaign to ensure Hitachi brought their train-building factory to the area, when the Conservative-led Government wanted to abandon the plan. By working together with other partners, we were successful against the odds in securing the factory and with it hundreds of good jobs for local people.

I have worked to achieve fairer decisions on public and school transport. I have campaigned successfully to see the Town Centre redeveloped which has seen significant improvements. I am continuing to work alongside the town centre management and other partners to strengthen the retail offer. I have fought against Eon's plan for a massive wind farm near Bradbury, Mordon and Chilton.

I have sought to be a strong voice for Sedgefield on many issues that are important to my constituency; speaking up on housing and rogue private landlords, exploitative employment practices, transport, manufacturing and the future of County Durham.

I've worked with schools across the constituency and I am a big supporter of the NHS, free at the point of need. I am a strong supporter of local business, the police and our armed forces. But most importantly I speak up for individuals and their families. I may not always receive the answer they want, but I will always try. That is why I run a fully staffed constituency office that has helped thousands of people.

I want to continue to serve all of the people of Sedgefield constituency as their member of Parliament and I really hope that they will vote for me either by post or at the ballot box on May 7th.

My campaign centre will be open to the public, Monday – Friday 10.30 – 3.30 pm. Either myself or someone from my campaign team will be on hand to answer questions about my campaign, about Labour’s policies, about political and local issues, and about the wider general election campaign. We have tea and coffee on hand so I really do encourage anyone to come in and have a chat and a cuppa.”

Phil’s new campaign centre is located at 37 Beveridge Way in Newton Aycliffe’s town centre. For more information, please contact phil4sedgefield@gmail.com.

Thom Brooks

About Me

I'm Professor of Law and Government at Durham University's Law School. I'm also Associate Member of the Philosophy Department. I'm originally from New Haven, Connecticut and currently a Visiting Fellow at Yale Law School. I've previously held visiting positions at Oxford, St Andrews and Uppsala and previously taught at Newcastle University. I'm founding editor of the Journal of Moral Philosophy which I started in 2003 while a graduate student.

My current research interests are immigration law and policy (esp citizenship) and sentencing law and policy (esp theories of punishment and the use of sentencing guidelines). I'm also working on the capabilities approach and global justice as well as my longstanding interests in the work of Hegel and the British Idealists.